Method and apparatus for lighting a target using a firearm scope

ABSTRACT

A method of lighting a target includes directing light through an ocular end of a firearm scope having a reticle to project the reticle on a target distanced from the firearm scope.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to firearms. More specifically, the inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for improving usability of a firearmhaving a scope in low-light and dark conditions.

2. Description of Related Art

Firearms are conventionally known that include a scope for assisting auser in viewing and shooting a target. The conventional scope includes areticle and magnification lenses such that a user looking through theocular end of the scope will see a magnified target, with cross-hairs orsome similar pattern superimposed thereon. Assuming the scope is alignedproperly relative to the gun barrel, the reticle pattern will identifyto the user where the target will be impacted upon pulling the trigger.

Conventional firearms and scoping systems are not without drawbacks,however. For example, such systems are generally of limited use inlow-light and dark conditions. Some attempts have been made to remedythis deficiency. For example, some inventors have tried to pipe a smallamount of light into a scope such that the reticle is illuminated. Thereticle will then appear to a user peering down the scope to beilluminated, instead of black, as a black reticle may be more difficultto view on the magnified target in low- or no-light situations. Otherscopes have sought to incorporate light-collecting aspects, such asnight-vision. However such scopes have failed because they areimpractical, too expensive to make, or can only be used in low-light.

Another drawback of conventional scopes is that they are only usable bypeering down them. They are otherwise of no assistance in firing. Thus,targeting a rifle or shotgun being shot “from the hip” is in no wayaided by a conventional scope. Some approaches to this problem have beento provide laser pointers on scopes. Thus, the laser pointer, if alignedproperly, will project a dot onto the target, at the position at whichthe target will be struck upon firing the firearm. One main drawback tosuch a configuration, though, is that the target is not readilyperceivable in low light conditions, beyond the dot formed by the laser.Thus, in low light, there is a possibility of shooting the wrong target,because conventional apparatus do not provide sufficient targetillumination.

Thus, there is a need in the art for a firearm with scope system that isreadily usable in low- or no-light conditions, can be accurately andreadily aimed without the need to look down the scope, and/or cansufficiently illuminate a target.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure remedies the foregoing needs in the art by providing animproved firearm and scope apparatus that is useful in low- and no-lightconditions, but that also illuminates a target, allowing for targetidentification.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of lighting atarget including directing light through an ocular end of a firearmscope having a reticle to project the reticle at a distance from thefirearm scope.

In another aspect, the disclosure relates to an apparatus for lighting atarget including a firearm scope and a light source. The firearm scopehas a reticle and an ocular end. The light source is arranged to emitlight into the ocular end of the scope, while occluding the ocular endof the scope.

In another aspect, the light is of sufficient intensity to project fromthe scope a distance to illuminate a target.

These and other aspects, features, and benefits of the invention will beappreciated further with reference to the following detailed descriptionof the invention and accompanying figures, in which preferred embodimentare described and illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional firearm.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a firearm with an accompanying apparatusfor lighting a target according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an in-use perspective view of the apparatus illustrated inFIG. 2.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of a portion of the apparatusillustrated in FIG. 2, in respective aligned and non-aligned positions.

FIGS. 5A ad 5B are, respectively, a perspective view and an explodedperspective view of a mount according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mount according to another embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the invention now will be described withreference to the Figures.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional firearm 2. The firearm 2 generally includesa barrel 4, a stock 6, and a trigger 8. Also illustrated is a scope 10mounted on the barrel 4. The scope preferably has a conventional formincluding a lens assembly and a reticle (not shown). As isconventionally known, a user looks through the ocular end 12 of thescope 10 to see a target therethrough. In some applications the targetis magnified by the lens assembly. The reticle, which may take any form,such as crosshairs, will also be visible through the scope. Although thefirearm 2 of FIG. 1 is a long-barreled firearm such as a rifle orshotgun, the gun is not limited to such applications. Any firearm uponwhich a scope of any size or configuration can be affixed will work withthe invention.

FIG. 2 shows the firearm 2 of FIG. 1 with an attached illuminationassembly 20. The illumination assembly 20 generally includes a lightsource 22, a power source 24, and a mount 40. The light source may be anLED source, a halogen source or any other known source that emits light.Preferably, the emitted light is coherent light having a minimum of 135lumens and more preferably of more than about 200 lumens.

The light source 22 is situated proximate the ocular end 12 of the scope10 and aligned with the scope 10 such that the emitted light is directedinto the scope. The light is of sufficient intensity that it will passthrough the scope and project out the opposite end, as illustrated inFIG. 3. The light projecting from the scope will illuminate any target30 in its path. Moreover, because the reticle is disposed in the scope10, the pattern of the reticle, such as crosshairs also will beprojected onto the target, as also illustrated in FIG. 3.

The power source 24 is provided to power the light source. A preferredpower source is a battery, which may be disposable or rechargeablealthough any conventional power source with sufficient power may beused. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the power source may be tethered to thelight source via a power supply cord 26, but it could alternatively beintegral with the light source. In the illustrated embodiment, the powersource 24 includes a housing 28 that is mounted to the stock of theweapon. One or more batteries (not shown) are contained within thehousing 28. In some embodiments the batteries may be accessible througha door or panel of the housing, while in others the user may not beprovided with ready access to the inside of the housing. The housing mayhave a port or receptacle for recharging, as is generally known in theart.

The housing 28 may be removably mounted to the stock, or it may be fixedto the stock. In a simple embodiment, hook-and-loop fasteners applied tothe housing 28 and the stock 6 may be used to retain the housing 28 onthe stock. Other fasteners also may be used such as screws, adhesives,mating recesses and protrusions. Such attachment means will be readilyappreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art.

In yet another embodiment, the power supply may be disposed in thestock. For example, the stock may define a cavity within which the powersupply may be disposed. The stock may then be removable to facilitateretrieval, and thus charging and/or replacement, of the power source.Alternatively, the stock may have a port or receptacle with sufficientwiring to allow charging of the power supply by inserting a tetheredcharge supply into the stock. In this embodiment, the stock may alsohave an outlet port in which a cord such as power supply cord 26 isreceived to transmit power from the power supply to the light source.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show the interface between the light source 22, mount40, and scope 10 in more detail. The mount 40 has generally cylindricalfirst and second receptacles 42, 44. The first receptacle 42 is sized toreceive and retain therein the light source 22, proximate an end fromwhich light is emitted. The second receptacle is sized to receive and beaffixed to the scope 10 proximate the ocular end 16. As will beappreciated, the first and second receptacles 42, 44 are generallycylindrical because the outer profile of each of the light source 22 andthe scope 10 are cylindrical. The receptacles are sized to accommodatethese components, so to the extent that the light source 22 and thescope 10 have different outer profiles, the receptacles 42, 44, may takea different shape. Moreover, to the extent that the mount can take ashape different from the light source 22 and/or the scope 10 and stillbe attached to such component, it need not have the same shape.

In a simple embodiment, the mount 40 retains the light source 22 in thefirst receptacle 42 and is secured to the scope 10 proximate the ocularend 16 via the second receptacle 44. Set screws or the like may beprovided to aid in securing the respective components. In the positionillustrated in FIG. 4A, which is an “aligned” or “in-use” position, themount 40 is arranged such that an axis of the light source issubstantially coaxial with an axis of the scope. Thus, the light isdirected into and through the scope, substantially along the axis of thescope.

When in place, the light source substantially occludes the ocular end ofthe scope, such that only light from the light source is entering thescope, and substantially all of the light from the light source isentering the scope. The scope can thus not be used in a conventionalmanner in this embodiment, as there is no way for a user to look intothe ocular end of the scope. However, the rewards of the scope still canbe reaped by the user, because, as noted above, light from the lightsource travels through the scope and is of sufficient power toilluminate a target and project the reticle on that target, the userwill still know where he is aiming. Assuming proper alignment of thescope relative to the barrel of the firearm, the projected reticle is anaccurate representation of where the target will be impacted upon firingthe firearm.

Because it may be desirable in many applications to have the possibilityto use the scope for its conventional purpose, i.e., for a user to lookdown the scope, the mount according to this illustrated embodimentallows the first and second receptacles 42, 44 to move relative to eachother. FIG. 4B shows the mount in an “open” or “unaligned” positionwhere the ocular end of the scope is unoccluded, thereby allowing a userto use the scope in the conventional manner. Although the light sourcein this open position will no longer be directed down the scope, itstill may be used to illuminate the target, as the light is preferablyunobstructed in the open position.

One embodiment of the mount 40 is shown in FIG. 5A, and in exploded viewin FIG. 5B. The two receptacles 42, 44 have generally cylindrical innersurfaces, as noted above. The second receptacle 44, which is designedfor mounting to the scope, has a C-shape configuration with protrusions48 a, 48 b extending substantially radially from a sidewall of thereceptacle 44. A screw 50, such as a thumb screw, is threadable througheach of the protrusions to move the protrusions relative to each other.As will be appreciated, when the protrusions move relatively closer, theinner, cylindrical surface of the receptacle 44 will get smaller. Thisallows the receptacle 44 to clamp on the outer surface of the scope 10,to hold the receptacle on the scope 10. The illustrated embodiment alsoincludes a sleeve 52, which fits inside the receptacle 42 to contact thescope 10. The sleeve 52 may be included to account for any dimensionalvariations, owing to different tolerance differences resulting inmanufacturing the scope, especially across manufacturers. The sleeve 52also may be preferable when a user desires that the clamp not directlycontact the scope, i.e., for fear of damaging the scope. The sleeve 52preferably is made of a non-marring material, such as a polymer. Thereceptacles may be of a lightweight metal, such as aluminum, or couldalso be made of some other metal, a polymer, or something else entirely.

The first receptacle 42 is substantially cylindrical and its innersurface is sized to receive the light source 22 therein. The illustratedfirst receptacle 42 has a flange 54 that circumscribes the opening onthe side of the first receptacle spaced from the second receptacle. Theflange 54 cooperates with the light source to retain the light source inthe second receptacle. To this end, the light source may have a mating,annular indentation that will receive the flange. Alternatively, theflange may be sized sufficiently small that the light source may beinserted into the first receptacle through the end opposite the endhaving the flange and the flange will prevent the light source frompassing completely through the receptacle. A set screw may be used incombination with the flange in this embodiment, to prevent rotation ofthe light source in the receptacle.

In another embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 6, the flange 54 may beprovided on the side of the first receptacle 42 proximate the secondreceptacle 44. The flange 54 has a diameter smaller than an outerdiameter of the leading or “light emitting” end of the light source,such that when the light source is inserted into the first receptaclethrough the opening of the first receptacle opposite the secondreceptacle, the leading end will contact the flange. This contact willprevent the flange from further advancement of the light source into thesecond receptacle. once seated against the flange, the light source issecured in the first flange using a set screw, clamp or the like.

Rotational blocks 56 a, 56 b also are provided on the outside surface ofthe receptacles 42, 44. In the illustrated embodiment, mating rails 46a, 46 b are provided on the blocks and the receptacles, and screws areused to fix each of the blocks to its respective receptacle. The twoblocks (and thus the receptacles) are connected by a fulcrum screw 58. Aspring 60 also is provided about the fulcrum screw 58, to bias therotational blocks 56 a, 56 b toward each other. The fulcrum screw allowsthe rotational blocks 56 a, 56 b to rotate relative to each other, aboutthe axis of the fulcrum screw. Accordingly, when the first receptacle 42is fixed to the scope, the second receptacle 44, and thus the lightsource, can be placed at any rotational position about the fulcrumscrew, including co-axial with the first receptacle 42, as in thealigned position described above. Although the blocks and receptaclesare provided with mating rails, they could alternatively be fixed toeach other. That is, rotational block 56 a could be fixed to receptacle44 and/or rotational block 56 b could be fixed to receptacle 42. Theillustrated rails are symmetrical, i.e., they will allow the receptacleand associated block be registered at two positions, 180-degrees apart,so by fixing the block and the receptacle, some alignment flexibilitymay be lost. Moreover, although the blocks and receptacles are fastenedusing different techniques, i.e., a thumb screw mounts block 56 a andtwo flat head screws mount block 56 a, in FIG. 6 both blocks are mountedusing a pair of flat head screws. The invention is not limited by anyattachment methodology.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotational blocks 56 a, 56 b areprovided with a notch 62 and a protrusion 64, respectively, whichcooperate to align the receptacles 42, 44 in two positions, at180-degree rotational intervals. These positions are show in FIGS. 4Aand 4B as the aligned ad non-aligned positions.

Although a specific embodiment of the mount is illustrated in FIGS. 5Aand 5B, variations to that mount will be readily appreciated to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art, upon enlightenment by this disclosure.For example, the same clamping mechanism and/or the sleeve used in thesecond receptacle could also be used in the first receptacle. Otherclamping and/or retention mechanisms could be used in either or both ofthe receptacles. Moreover, the notch 62 and protrusion 64 may not beprovided at all in some embodiments, while in still others they could beformed to provide additional alignment positions. In another embodiment,the first and second receptacles may be fixed in the aligned position,or may be integrated into a single piece. In such an application thelight source would always be in the aligned position when the mount isaffixed to the scope, and the unaligned position would be achieved byremoving the mount.

In another embodiment of the invention, the first receptacle may mountto the gun instead of the scope. In such an embodiment the firstreceptacle may have a completely different shape, designed to insteadclamp onto or otherwise releasably secure to the gun. In such anembodiment, the second receptacle would still be attached to the firstreceptacle, to selectively align the light source with the scope.

As will be appreciated, the invention is particularly useful for using afirearm in low- and no-light conditions, including at night. Whereasmost scopes would be rendered unusable in darkness, the invention may beembodied as a simple accessory to make use of the scope. Thehigh-powered light projects from the scope to illuminate the targetwhile projecting the reticle from the scope onto the target. Although auser cannot look through the scope when the light source is alignedtherewith, there is no need to, as the projected cross-hairs or otherreticle pattern will be readily discernible on the target, and accurate.Thus, the user gets the benefit of the scope, but without the necessityto look through it. The user also therefore need not fire the gun from acustomary firing position, such as from the shoulder for a rifle, toaccurately aim. Applications of the invention include night-hunting, forexample, for wild boar or raccoons. Other uses may include lawenforcement or military. Whereas law enforcement officers and soldiersare generally required to carry a flashlight separate from their firearmto identify perpetrators before firing, the present invention provides asingle solution that allows for illumination and aiming. Moreover, asnoted above, an officer need not have the gun in the proper firingposition for reliable aiming.

While the invention has been described in connection with severalpresently preferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art willappreciate that many modifications and changes may be made thereinwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention whichaccordingly is intended to be defined solely by the appended claims.

1. A method of lighting a target comprising: directing light through anocular end of a firearm scope having a reticle to project the reticle ata distance from the firearm scope.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thelight is an incandescent light.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thelight is coherent.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the light emanatesfrom a light source.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the light sourceis aligned with the ocular end of the firearm scope.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the light source occludes the ocular end of the firearmscope.
 7. An apparatus for lighting a target comprising: a firearm scopehaving a reticle and an ocular end; and a light source emitting lightinto the ocular end of the firearm scope and occluding the ocular end.8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a mount for mounting thelight source relative to the firearm scope.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the mount articulates to allow for positioning of the lightsource in at least a first position aligned with the firearm scope and asecond position not aligned with the firearm scope.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the mount is mounted to the scope proximate the ocularend of the scope.
 11. The method of claim 6, wherein the light source ismounted to the scope with a mount proximate the ocular end of the scope.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the mount articulates to allow forpositioning of the light source in at least a first position alignedwith the firearm scope and a second position not aligned with thefirearm scope, wherein the step of directing light through an ocular endof the firearm scope having a reticle to project the reticle at adistance from the firearm scope is performed when the light source ispositioned in the first position, and further comprising positioning thelight source in the second position and thereby allowing a user to lookdown the scope through the ocular end.